Get ready to rock this DSS

For the first time ever a rock show called 'Queen It's A Kinda Magic' is to become one of the highlights of the Dubai Summer Surprises. The show will bring Peter Freestone, Freddie Mercury's personal assistant, close friend and biographer for the last 12 years of his life to recreate the theatrical magic of the late pop icon live on stage to mark what would have been Freddie Mercury's 60th birthday year.

"Dubai Summer Surprises is delighted to introduce this concert as part of our events calendar. This is the first time that a rock concert is scheduled in our entertainment programme itinerary. The show is just another step in adding a new dimension to this year's DSS activities. In time we are working to ensure that events of this nature do end up becoming a regular part of DSS lending the annual summer event a more glamorous profile," said Yousif Mubarak, DSS Director of Events, Operations and Services.

The show, to be staged at Madinat Jumeirah Arena on Thursday, June 29 will rock to a whole new beat as Freddie comes back to life. The rock show moves over to Dubai after a two-day performance in Abu Dhabi.

After sold out shows in Australia, Canada, the United States, and Asia, Queen - It's A Kinda Magic are bringing the magic of Freddie Mercury and Queen to Abu Dhabi and Dubai en route to Europe. The show produced by Showtime and Directed by John Van Grinsven is promised to be a concert lover's treat.

Craig Pesco's outrageous stage antics and personality make him the perfect Freddie; Travis Hair's Red Special recreates Brian May's inimitable style and sound; Brett Millican hammers the tubs and sings like drummer Roger Taylor; and Sean Nolan provides the unmistakable bass sound of John Deacon.

Peter Freestone reveals the stage performance and presence of Freddie Mercury and Queen are truly brought to life by the cast of the theatrical creation Queen - Its A Kinda Magic. "If you have ever wondered what it would have been like to witness and experience a live performance by Freddie Mercury, come and see this show. The songs, the excitement and the thrill, they're all there," said Peter Freestone.

"I've seen plenty of Queen cover bands over the years and some are terrific, but this theatrical creation truly took me back to another time," said Freestone after seeing the show for the first time in Singapore last year. "I can't imagine anyone coming close to what Queen - Its A Kinda Magic does to bring Freddie back to the stage, larger than life."

If you haven't seen this tribute based on the sellout 1986 Queen World Tour then you haven't completed your "Queenology". Bringing back to the rock stage all the electric energy, vibrant costumes and homemade sound that is Freddie Mercury and Queen live, in a manner that will transport even the hardest critic back to a time when Queen ruled the rock circuit.

Tickets to this theatrical sensation are on sale and will be available at the Emirates Palace Lobby and Virgin Megastores in Abu Dhabi. In Dubai they will be available at Mercato, Deira City Centre, Mall of the Emirates & BurJuman.

The 10-week long DSS, which opens with Ice Surprises week on June 21, will continue with the weekly themes such as Arts Surprises, International Food Surprises, Adventure Surprises, Cartoon Surprises, Nature Surprises, Knowledge Surprises, Flower Surprises, Heritage Surprises and concludes with Back-to-School Surprises on September 1.